This week was relatively normal. I had a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday so Dad came home early & taught Bible. His lesson was on Chapter 38 which pertains to Gog & Magog. I think he did very well & doesn’t give himself nearly enough credit for his abilities.

Thursday, we did a science lab. Using 4 separate cups of water of varying temperatures, we determined how long it took each cup to freeze. Basically, this was to prove or disprove the Mpemba Effect which was a focal point of science this week.

Next week, on Wednesday, we finish our State Testing with the essay portion. Again, we know that one will definitely be a persuasive & one an opinion. The third is a crap shoot. I’m praying it isn’t a narrative. Non-fiction is honestly easier to write for these tests.

After finishing the unit on the Titanic, with an assist from Dad, we began a unit featuring ‘Talk with an Astronaut’. This piece is in interview format. We’re continuing to work with the area of rectangles & triangles. Next week we’ll be doing an object lesson on 3D objects by using mini marshmallows & toothpicks.

In science we’re learning the difference between a mixture & a solution. Our main focus was the experiment with freezing. He completed 2 separate timed experiments for that & created a table. The table listed the amount of water in milliliters, measured from a graduated cylinder, the temp, & the length of time (both when freezing started & ended).

Social Studies, in my humble opinion, are useless right now. They’re goin way too in depth into the Transcontinental Railroad. Today’s youth have a hard time staying focused on something such as this. I’d rather they had stuck with the people who created the technology or heroes of the time. Oh, well, can’t win them all.

Next week, we’ll be starting a unit on the Book of Romans. I want to go in depth with him into the topic of grace. In Language Arts, we’ll be doing Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hooray! Finally, good quality literature!

When I took my SATs many moons ago, I swear there was a bugler playing ‘Taps’ as I walked in. While I can’t recall much about the test itself, I do remember the zombie-like looks on people’s faces. In fact, I always believed that the score depended on your God-given smarts. As a public school student, I was ill-prepared & hope today’s public educators do better.

True, the SATs may not what you’d deem fun reading material, but there’s something about Debbie Stier that makes it so. Perhaps it’s her candor or the overwhelming love she has for her kids. You simply have to respect a mom who (willingly) took the SAT 7 times before her son took it once.

With determination only a mom could have, she entered the Badlands of the SATs & lived to tell the tale. As I prepare my son for State Testing, I feel her pain. We all do what we believe is best for our respective students. But, as parents, no one really gives us a handbook for helping these poor kids through the test of their lives.

Now, we have one. Thanks to Debbie’s unrivaled dedication, we have a place to turn. She’s written ‘The Perfect Score Project’ as a guidebook to all things SATs. Using humor & strength, she points us in the right direction. From tutors & classes to on-line help, this book is a golden ticket to that dreaded day of testing.

No doubt, this book needs to be on the shelf of every parent with a child from junior high & up. This isn’t your garden variety textbook. It’s ‘real’ talk from a real mom. Find out which errors appear the most. Get advice on the critical reading. But, don’t forget to laugh a little & enjoy the ride!

Absolutely essential, it’s a Perfect Score of 5 stars!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Easter is coming, and Sam loves Easter! But this year, he is upset about a lie he told his parents. Even though he apologized and they forgave him, Sam can’t shake the feeling that he is a bad kid for what he did. Meanwhile, his parents help him make a special Easter craft called a Sparkle Egg. His mom tells him to write anything he feels sorry about or ashamed of on a piece of paper and put it inside his Sparkle Egg.

On Easter morning, when he opens his Sparkle Egg expecting a surprise, Sam finds that it is empty! His parents explain that because Jesus died and rose again, we are forgiven. Like the tomb that first Easter Day, Sam’s egg is empty—and Sam’s wrongdoing is completely forgiven. Once he accepts this forgiveness fully, Sam realizes a truth: we can sparkle and shine with God’s light when we
let God’s gift of grace into our hearts. This touching story will strike a deep chord with readers of all ages, and the Sparkle Egg tradition will help readers and their families grasp the totality of God’s perfect grace.

Emilee at Pea of Sweetness loves resources that help children focus on the true reason we celebrate Easter. See what her family thought in their review of The Sparkle Egg.

One winner will receive The Sparkle Egg book (ARV $16.99). This giveaway begins on 3/29 at 7pm and ends on 4/12 at 11:00pm (times are Central) and is open to US and Canada (void Quebec) ages 18+. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools. All entries are optional, but completing more entries increases your chances of winning!

Don’t you love when you discover something unique? That is how Emilee from Pea of Sweetness and Deals of Sweetness felt when she was introduced to JORD Wood Watches. JORD offers a variety of unique wood watches that are made from diverse woods from all over the world. They combine their various grains with their natural colors which results in watches that are really unique. As an eco-friendly consumer, she also loves that they are handcrafted with sustainable materials. She had a chance to review the JORD Fieldcrest wood watch.

One winner will receive the JORD Fieldcrest Natural Green wood watch (ARV $120). This giveaway begins on 3/29 at 7pm and ends on 4/12 at 11:00pm (times are Central) and is open worldwide ages 18+. Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.